I've played the Dragon Age 3 or DA: Inquisition for 5-6 hours. And I must admit that at first didn't think that all the negative comments about this game were true. But after trying the game for about 5-6 hours (EA and Bioware had a promotional for this game where you could download this game before a certain date and then try it for 6 hours or so) I must admit that all of the negative comments about this game were correct.
As I see, from my point of view, Bioware (or EA or both) didn't make an rpg this time around. They made an action-adventure game with some rpg elements; the game felt more like an Uncharted game or Assasin's Creed game than or a Tombraider game than it did an rpg. Or even a Bioware game for that matter. It also felt somewhat like tactical game, as it has certain RTS elements in it. (the whole advancing the inflluence of the Inquisition e.g by ways of collecting power points).
As I finished character creation, I suddenly realised that Bioware has done away with the distribution of points for various stats for this main character. And when we, or followers level up, we can't even distribute the stat points for abilites like we used to. This is indeed a hall mark of an rpg…..leveling one's character so that it suits our wishes, not Biowares.
As for the introduction to the game, I felt like I was playing a badly written Oblivion or Skyrim game….You start out as prisoner of Cassandra's. And then suddenly, your job is to decide what to do next in the game. This doesn't feel meaningfull - at least in Oblivion, you actually had a reason to be in prison. And you actually met someone (Patrick Steward disguised as the Emperor) who gave you a reason for doing what you're supposed to do - in Oblivion that is. In this game, this DA:I, I feel from the start that I really, really don't care about what is happening to the world.
Then 1½ hour or so goes. And suddenly, my character are the leader of the Inquistion. Why? I really really don't know - and no amount of pretty scenery can make me - or my character - interested. In what's going in the story - or trick me into caring for the characters in this game. And while were talking about the characters, the dialogues are badly written, the story, plot and missions (or quests) are bland and un-interesting.
And while we're at it did I mention the horrible, horrible controls —- at least when you're playing on a computer. Not even Oblivion's controls were this bad…..or Skyrims from what I can tell. This will show in combat. As many of you have noted, the tactical camera (at least on pc) is useless or nearly useless. It doesn't work properly - which tells me that the tactical seem to be a decision that was made - and added - late - to the game. I usually just controlled my character in combat and let my followers take care of themselves. It worked very well. Did I mention how horrible the controls are? Yes I did….
You can jump and climb in this game…why you can this…is a mystery to me. This is partly what I mean by DA:I seems more like a Tombraider or an Uncharted game to than it does an rpg at all. It's like Bioware listened to all people all over the internet who demanded jumping, climbing and exploration in this game. And then designed the game by comittee -e.g they, Bioware, but everything in the game that people did ask for. And this means, as I see it, that the game lacks focus.
You need to explore and make camp at various sites in this game. But again, the camping system is somewhat broken. The camps are very crowded which means you do a lot of running around trying to find the people you're supposed to find. But the game sure looks pretty….did I mention the lack of focus…yes, I did.
I don't get the idea behind the war board…sorry, but I just don't. This game is supposed to be an rpg, not an RTS or an action-adventure game. I know I've only played about 5-6 hours, but based on these hours, I'd give DA:I a rating of 6.5/10, maybe 6.7 or 6.8 out of 10 - but no more. How this game got all the editor medals and 9.9 ratings, it did, I really don't know.
ETA:
I understand there's a lot crafting involved in this game e.g. you can buy or find schematics for new weapons and armors etc. I'm sure some players would like to craft things in games, I don't. I just like to gear up and go on a interesting story with exciting characters. As it seems now, DA: I feels more like an badly written and developed Elder Scrolls game than it does DA game or even a game from Bioware